All races are run on a system of elimination by head-to-head heats. Timing of contestants has no bearing in determining winners. Cars must start from a stand still at the top of the track, and are powered only by gravity. The car whose nose is first over the finish line is the winner.
How do you win Pinewood Derby?
10 Tips for a Fast and Cool Looking Pinewood Derby Car
- Bake your block.
- Max out your weight at the regulation 5 ounces.
- Use all of the graphite.
- Sand and polish your wheels and axles.
- Check alignment.
- Spend time sanding.
- Use a high-quality paint.
- Add decals.
What is the Pinewood Derby world record?
The longest pinewood derby track measured 97.54 m (320 ft) and was built by the Boston Minuteman Council and Boy Scouts of America (USA) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Does Mass matter Pinewood Derby?
The acceleration depends on the coefficient of friction and the angle. It does not depend on the mass of the car.
What is the best weight for a Pinewood Derby car?
MAX OUT YOUR CAR’S WEIGHT AT 5 OZ
First, the basics: Your car should weigh as much as it’s allowed. In most races, a Pinewood Derby car’s weight is limited to 5 ounces. If your car weighs less than that, add coins or other weights.
Should I bake my pinewood derby block?
Should I bake the pinewood derby block? The short answer is no, do not bake the block. The idea behind baking the block is to remove moisture which will make the block lighter. You can then add more weight to the back of the car.
Do favorites win the Derby?
Favorites win 35% of the time in the Kentucky Derby, a success rate that more or less holds true for all other North American horse races. Bet on every favorite over the course of 12 races, and you’ll likely pick four or five winners, sufficient to make you a handicapping hero.
What are the codes in Pinewood?
Codes
- Primary Code. Code: 5-33-41-18. The primary code is the first code that can be inputted into the core mainframe.
- Secondary Code. Code: 6-44-52-29. The secondary code is the second code that can be inputted into the core mainframe.
- Tertiary Code. Code: ???
What is a good pinewood derby time?
Pinewood Derby Results. The average times with just weight added was 3.288 seconds. There was 0.188 seconds between the fastest and slowest car, about 23 inches. The average time was 2.994 seconds, about 44 inches faster than without graphite (0.353 seconds).
Where is the best place to put weight on a pinewood derby car?
Best Location to Weight Your Pinewood Derby Car
When deciding on where to weight your car, you should try to reach a final balance point of the car 1 inch or less in front of the rear axle. To achieve this, place 2/5 of the added weight behind the rear axle, and the remaining 3/5 in front of the rear axle.
Do heavier Pinewood Derby cars go faster?
Much has been written about the physics of pinewood derby cars, and this is one rare case in racing where heavy = fast. Aerodynamics have little effect in such a short race, but weight does and putting the weight at the back of the car will make your car faster on the flat of the track.
Should I glue Pinewood Derby axles?
7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels. 8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow.
Can a Pinewood Derby car be shorter than 7 inches?
Length and Wheelbase of Pinewood Derby Cars. The length of your Pinewood Derby car is very simple to choose. The rules state a maximum 7-inch length. You want the car to be that long, minus just a little bit (say 1/16″) to allow for judging and measurement slop.
Does a longer wheelbase make a pinewood derby car faster?
The longer the wheel base, the greater the turning distance (a short car turns much more quickly than a long car). A pinewood derby car should go as straight as possible, so a longer wheel base is an advantage.
What is a fast speed for pinewood derby car?
The distribution plot below shows a range of speeds from 177 mph to 229 mph, with most cars exceeding 200 mph.
How long should I bake my pinewood derby car?
Bake the Block: Start with your block of wood, and before you do anything else, bake it in the oven at 250 degrees for around two hours to remove moisture and make it lighter.
How do you clean Pinewood Derby tracks?
Here are three suggestions:
- Windex (or similar) – This is good for a light cleaning or dusting.
- 409 (or similar) – This will remove almost everything without harming the track.
- Soft Scrub (or similar) – This will get it all and still not harm the track.
Why does my Pinewood Derby car wobble?
Pinewood Derby Wheels Wobble are a very common issue. Derby wheels are made with an injection molding process. Because they are not machined from raw material, flaws such as concentricity (wobble) will cause a wheel to wobble because the bore is not aligned with the outer diameter.
How long does a Pinewood Derby last?
about 12 days
A regular Pinewood Derby race on a 40-foot track lasts a couple of seconds. The Pinewood Derby Race Across America is expected to last about 12 days.
Is it better to bet favorites?
If you’re betting a favorite on the money line, you’re likely going to win more often than you lose, but that doesn’t mean you’ll return a profit long term. Because you’re paying more of a premium with odds when wagering on money line favorites, you need to ensure that a favorite’s win probability outpaces the odds.
Why do Derby winners bite?
He reached out and grabbed ahold of the horse, and it made the horse mad. He didn’t know he was trying to help him. He thought he was supposed to outrun that horse, and he bit the guy’s leg terribly — bit his arm a couple, really bad bites,” Reed continued. “The horse is not a mean horse.